Package for strand material



April 7, 1964 F. w. KRUPP PACKAGE FOR STRAND MATERIAL Filed June 8, 1962 FIGJ.

FR EDERICK W. KRUPP ATTYS.

United States Patent O 3,127,990. PACKAGE FOR STRAND MATERIAL Frederick W. Krupp, Princeton, N.J., assignor t Gudebrod Brothers Silk Co., Inc, Pottstown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 8, 1262, Ser. No. 201,103 14 Claims. ((11. 206-52) This invention relates to the packaging of strand materials. More particularly, the invention provides a dispenser which dispenses strand material, such as dental floss, electrical tie tape or other material of the same nature or structure in pre-set lengths.

Prior to this invention, all strand material packages, such as those heretofore mentioned, have consisted of a dispenser with a continuous length of strand material and a somewhat ineffective cutting device to enable the user to cut the strand material to the desired length. That the devices used for cutting have been most unsatisfactory is attested by the number and variety of such packages and associated cutting devices presently on the market. This invention, on the other hand, makes it unnecessary for the ultimate user to cut the strand material to length, as it is already cut to length.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of this invention is to provide novel means for packaging and dispensing strand material in short lengths so that as one strand is pulled from the package the remaining strands do not pull free nor become entangled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel element to engage the strand material to prevent more than one strand from pulling free at a time.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved package which dispenses predetermined lengths of strand material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel package which is easy to carry and which can be closed after a strand has been withdrawn.

Another object of this invention is to provide a package which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and prepare for market.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a package embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 with a section of the package cut away, showing a portion of the interior elements with the strand material in place;

FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the interior elements of the package 'shown in FIG. 2 removed from the sample container;

FIG. 4 is a front View of the element shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the package of FIG. 1 with the top portion cut away;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the package of FIG. 1 with a cap fitted thereon; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the package shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawing, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention comprises a container 14 which has an aperture 17 from which the strand material 12 projects for easy access by a user. Inside the container 14 there is an insert through which is threaded the strand material 12. The insert is secured at one end to an inner ring or core element 13. A cap 18 is used to close the container 14 when not in use.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the insert 10 which is provided with at least one passageway, in the present instance a plurality of passageways 11, through which is threaded one or more separate strands of strand-like material 12, e.g. dental floss or electrical tie tape. In the present in- 3,127,99h Patented Apr. 7, 1964 "ice stance, the insert It) is made of flexible material such as thin cardboard but may be constructed of stiff material as desired.

The insert is secured to the inner ring or core element 13 to prevent the insert 10 from moving relative to the inner ring 13 when the user is extracting an individual length of strand material 12 from the container 14. For example, FIG. 5 shows the insert 10 in place and attached to the inner ring 13 by an adhesive 15 on the end of the insert 10. The core element 13, as illustrated in the drawing, is hollow to allow for storage of spare inserts or strand material.

By threading the strand material 12 through the passageways 11, the strand material passes along the inner and outer surfaces of the insert 10. Securing the insert 10 to the inner ring or core element 13, puts additional tension on the individual strand 12 being removed and at the same time aids in preventing the remaining lengths of strand material 12, from being pulled out or entangled. This is accomplished by providing a frictional engagement of the strand material 12 disposed on the inner surface of the insert with the outer surface of the inner ring or core element 13. In addition, there is frictional engagement of the strand material in the passageways 11 through which it is threaded. In the illustrated embodiment, the space between the insert 11) and container 14 is such that the strands frictionally engage the inner portion of the container 14 as well as the outer portion of the inner ring 13.

By anchoring the insert 10 to the inner ring 13, the user, in pulling a strand from the bundle of strand material 12, puts additional tension on the individual strand being removed and by such additional tension, tightens the insert 10 and strand material 12 threaded thereon against the inner ring or core element 13 providing a frictional engagement between these elements, which along with the frictional engagement of the strand material in the passageways 11 through which it is threaded, prevents the remaining lengths of strand material 12 from being pulled out or entangled.

If desired, and as shown in the drawing, eyelets 16 with smooth rounded edges may be secured in the passageways 11 to minimize the possibility of strand material 12 binding and to also minimize the removal by any scraping action of any substance which is used as a coating on the strand material 12.

The insert 10 and strand material 12 are enclosed by the container 14, which in the present instance is of the snap open type consisting of an upper piece 14a and a lower piece 14b constructed in such a manner as to allow receipt of and easy access to the inner ring or core element 13, the insert 10 and the strand material 12. The container 14 has an aperture 17 of such dimension as to allow a bundle of strand-like material 12 to project from the container 14 in such a manner as to allow easy grasping and removal of the strand-like material 12 in individual lengths.

In the present embodiment of this invention, the cap 18, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, may be used when the container 14 is not in use. The cap 18 is channel-shaped in cross-section with a curved top 21 which conforms to the outer curvature of the container, the sides 22 are of such distance apart as to provide a force fit when the cap 18 is pressed over the container 14. The purpose of the cap is to insure that the containers top 14a and bottom 1412 do not separate and further to cover the aperture 17 while additionally holding the strand material 12 from being pulled free accidentally when the container is not being used.

Thus the invention provides a convenient and simple package which allows removal of a single predetermined length of strand material which will not snarl or en tangle the lengths remaining in the package.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A strand material package comprising, in combination, a container having means defining an aperture therein, an insert in said container having at least one passageway to receive a plurality of strands extending therethrough whereby portions of each of the strands are disposed on one side of said insert and portions of each of the strands are disposed on the opposite side of said insert, said passageway affording passage of said strands through said aperture, through said passageway and along the inner surface of the insert, and a core element confronting the inner surface of said insert to engage the strands thereon to hold the strands in place as one of said strands is removed from the insert through the aperture.

2. A strand material package according to claim 1 wherein said container is a hollow cylinder having said aperture in the cylindrical portion thereof.

3. A strand material package comprising, in combination, a container having means defining an aperture therein, an elongated insert in said container having a plurality of passageways spaced along the length thereof to receive a plurality of strands interwoven therebetween whereby portions of each of the strands are disposed to one side of said insert and portions of each of the strands are disposed on the other side of said insert, said passageways affording passage of said strands through said aperture, through said passageways and along the inner and outer surfaces of the insert, and a core element confronting the inner surface of said insert to engage the strands thereon to hold the strands in place as one of said strands is removed from said insert through the aperture.

4. A strand material package according to claim 3 including a bundle of strand material in pre-set lengths threaded through said passageways and passing along the inner and outer surfaces of said insert.

5. A strand material package as set forth in claim 3 including means securing the core element confronting the inner surface of said insert to said insert.

6. A strand material package according to claim 3 wherein said container is a hollow cylinder having said aperture in the cylindrical portion thereof.

7. A strand material package as set forth in claim 6 wherein said insert conforms to and confronts the cylindrical interior of said container to frictionally engage the strands passing along the outer surface of the insert.

8. A strand material package according to claim 3 wherein said insert is composed of flexible material.

9. A strand material package according to claim 8 including eyelets secured in said passageways in said insert.

10. A strand material package comprising, in combination, a hollow cylindrical container having means defining an aperture on the cylindrical portion thereof, an elongated insert in said container, said insert conforming to the cylindrical interior of said container, said insert having a plurality of passageways spaced along its length to receive a plurality of strands interwoven therebetween whereby portions of each of the strands are disposed on one side of said insert and portions of each of said strands are disposed on the other side of said insert, a bundle of strand material in pre-set lengths threaded through said passageways passing along the inner and outer surfaces of said insert and through said aperture, a core element confronting the inner surface of said insert and said strand material threaded therein, to engage the strands thereon to hold the strands in place as one of said strands is removed from said insert through the aperture and means securing said core element to said insert.

11. A strand material package according to claim 10 including a cap, having means conforming to the exterior of said container, mounted thereon and covering said aperture.

12. A strand material package according to claim 10 wherein said core element is hollow.

13. A strand material package comprising, in combination, a container having means defining an aperture therein, an insert in said container having at least one passageway to receive a plurality of strands therein, said passageway affording passage of said strands through said aperture, through said passageway and along the inner surface of the insert, a core element confronting the inner surface of said insert to engage the strands thereon to hold the strands in place as one of said strands is removed from the insert through the aperture and means to secure said core to said insert.

14. A strand material package comprising, in combination, a container having means defining an aperture therein, an insert in said container having at least one passageway to receive a plurality of strands therein, said passageway affording passage of said strands through said aperture, through said passageway and along the inner surface of the insert, a core element confronting the inner surface of said insert to engage the strands thereon to hold the strands in place as one of said strands is removed from the insert through the aperture and a cap conforming to the exterior of saidcontainer mounted thereon to cover said aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 674,307 Quinn May 14, 1901 1,268,944 Ecaubert June 11, 1918 2,671,556 Caraway Mar. 9, 1954 

1. A STRAND MATERIAL PACKAGE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER HAVING MEANS DEFINING AN APERTURE THEREIN, AN INSERT IN SAID CONTAINER HAVING AT LEAST ONE PASSAGEWAY TO RECEIVE A PLURALITY OF STRANDS EXTENDING THERETHROUGH WHEREBY PORTIONS OF EACH OF THE STRANDS ARE DISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID INSERT AND PORTIONS OF EACH OF THE STRANDS ARE DISPOSED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID INSERT, SAID PASSAGEWAY AFFORDING PASSAGE OF SAID STRANDS 